Changing the oil in a Ford Focus 3 manual transmission

The modern Ford Focus 3 passenger car is equipped with a manual transmission. A box of this type allows you to carry out maintenance yourself in a garage without the involvement of qualified service station mechanics. It is enough for the car owner to master the necessary skills in diagnosing and changing the oil in the gearbox housing. Changing the oil in the Ford Focus 3 box is carried out in accordance with the recommendations detailed in the operating manual for this vehicle.

How often does an oil change need to be made?

According to the regulations, there is no need for maintenance in the Ford Focus 3 automatic transmission, since oil is filled from the factory for the entire life of the vehicle.

But in practice, car owners often change lubricant for the following reasons:

if the gearbox has been repaired due to the appearance of third-party noise and vibration;
problems appeared in the operation of the transmission;
for prevention purposes;
A fluid leak was discovered from the gearbox.

Service center specialists will not give a clear answer when the lubricant is changed. For preventive purposes, the frequency of changes is approximately 100 thousand km, but this should not be done more often. Considering that the financial costs of completing the task are not particularly high, the fluid should be changed taking into account all the features of a particular car. For example, it is advisable to change the oil when changing clutch discs.

The need to replace the substance in the gearbox can be understood by assessing its condition. If it has lost its lubricating characteristics, and the working molecules cannot perform their functions, then the oil will be thinner, and the consistency will be like water. Moreover, the shade will become dark. Wear products in the form of metal shavings may appear in the lubricant.

Detailed instructions on changing the working fluid in a 4F27 automatic transmission are provided by the VAG Repair channel of the group.

Selection of lubricants for automatic and manual transmissions

The selection of lubricant is carried out from the position of the manufacturer and the volume of the substance. When assembling vehicles, the manufacturer fills the gearbox with 75W FE transmission fluid; the oil meets the WSS-M2C200-D2 specification. According to many experts, other alternative lubrication options should not be used. This can lead to serious problems in the operation of the gearbox, including its complete failure.

It is also necessary to take into account the amount of fluid purchased for manual and automatic transmissions of the Ford Focus. On average, about two liters of substance can enter the unit, and the remaining lubricant, which cannot be removed from the system, varies around 150-200 ml. Therefore, when buying oil, focus on an approximate volume of 1.8 liters. If your car is equipped with a 4F27E gearbox, then 6.7 liters of lubricant are poured into such gearboxes. When using the CFT23 transmission, the unit will contain about 8.9 liters of working fluid. Therefore, before purchasing oil, be sure to study the service manual.

If you decide to simply change the fluid, then there is no point in flushing the transmission unit. The cleaning procedure is relevant for serious repairs that require disassembling the gearbox. It is possible to effectively and efficiently wash the gearbox only if it is disassembled. Lubricant is poured into the PowerShift transmission in Ford Focus restyling and other versions for the entire service life, and the manufacturer does not provide a filtration function. Therefore, there is no point in looking for a filter; you will not find this device on sale. The operation of Ford automatic transmissions itself is more similar to the functioning of conventional manual transmissions.

What do we need?

So, to replace transmission fluid in manual transmissions of Ford Focus 1,2 and 3 models you will need:

oil (the volume of “consumables” in a manual transmission is 2.2 liters). It is better to purchase 4 liters of fluid (you will need additional MTF to clean the box), but in practice, domestic craftsmen do not clean the gearbox and fill in 2 liters;
hexagon to “8” and wrench to “19”;
container for used transmission oil;
special syringe for filling.

MTF 75W-90 BO for manual transmission
As for the automatic transmission:

automatic transmission filter (original American brand - “XS4Z-7A098-AC”). You can install a European-made filter, but it will cost twice as much as the original American one;
sealing rubber gasket;
5 liters of original oil “WSS-M2C919-E”;
universal sealing adhesive;
knife;
transparent tube;
container for waste liquid;
screwdriver.

ATF replacement kit

Level control

Checking the lubricant level is carried out on a warm gearbox, the car must be on a flat horizontal surface. If the unit is equipped with a special probe for diagnostics, then set the gearbox selector to position P and remove it. The indicator itself is located next to the wall of the engine compartment in the area of the steering column.

There are two marks on the dipstick - MIN and MAX, the difference between them is 0.4 liters. If you want to add lubricant, add fluid through the indicator hole, but before doing this, you should stop the engine. In the absence of a dipstick, lubrication is controlled through the drain hole located on the pan of the unit. There is a small cap on the drain plug; you need to unscrew it to understand how much lubricant is in the system.

Changing the oil in manual transmission Focus 3: process and result

It is not recommended to change the oil yourself. When making a replacement, you should pay important attention to choosing the brand of oil. Even when purchasing a quality substance, there is a risk that it will not suit the car. You can only use a substance that is officially specified by the manufacturer in the recommended list. The use of its analogues is also permitted.

The process is carried out in several stages:

using a lift, access to the lower part of the vehicle is provided;
components and substance must cool;
the plug is unscrewed to drain the transmission fluid, after which it begins to drain;
It may take some time to drain;
the thread, plug and mechanism are cleaned of dirt;
the plug is screwed in using an O-ring made of rubber and copper;
unscrew the oil filler plug located in the upper part of the unit;
the thread is cleaned;
new transmission fluid is poured;
the plug is screwed into place.

The Ford Focus 3 manual transmission requires 2.3 liters of oil. Once the task is completed, the smoothness of gear shifting will improve. During operation, the noise will decrease and knocking noises will no longer be audible. The new fluid better lubricates car components, thereby reducing friction. The chips dissolve in the oil and no longer have a harmful effect on the parts of the device. A protective layer is created on them, providing anti-corrosion properties. The conditions under which the working mechanism is cooled are also formed.

Work order

Changing the oil in the Ford Focus 3 automatic transmission and manual transmission can be done at a service station or independently. We will tell you how to complete the task yourself.

Tools and materials

What you need to prepare before your shift:

lubricant, the volume of which varies depending on the type of gearbox;
19mm wrench and 8mm hexagon;
a bucket or basin for collecting waste substances;
a construction or medical syringe for filling, you will also need a hose;
rubber seal for the pallet;
sealant;
stationery knife;
screwdriver.

User Alexey Popov provided a video in which he showed how to independently change the working fluid in a manual transmission.

Algorithm of actions

When all the tools and materials have been collected, you can start changing the lubricant.

Replacement in automatic transmission

Details on how to drain and fill new oil into an automatic transmission:

Start the engine, warm it up and drive the car into a garage with a pit or onto an overpass. A lift can be used. Turn off the engine.
Get under the bottom of the car. Using a wrench or hexagon, unscrew the bolts and remove the crankcase protection.
Some transmission models are not equipped with a drain plug. You'll need a utility knife to cut off the rubber seal, then carefully pry up the pan that houses the transmission unit. Please note that when removing the crankcase, the lubricant will begin to drain from the box, so before dismantling it, place a basin or bucket under it, in which you will collect the “working off”.
After the oil has partially come out from under the pan, you can completely unscrew all the bolts and dismantle it. Some car models are equipped with filter devices. If this element is present, then you need to find its sensor and disconnect the wires with contacts from it. After this, carefully remove the filter; some transmission fluid will remain in it, so be careful.
Drain the remaining waste from the pan. Clean the magnet installed inside from metal shavings and other deposits. If the oil is too dirty, it makes sense to think about completely dismantling the unit and thoroughly washing it. Also clean the pan from any remaining sealant and sealing rubber.
Install the rubber gasket on the edges of the crankcase; it is glued using sealant. The place for its installation on the transmission must be treated with glue. Secure the new filter element, if equipped, and then put the pan in place.
Now you need to drain the remaining lubricant from the torque converter. To do this, disconnect the supply pipe from the radiator unit for cooling the transmission and connect a transparent hose to it, the other end of which is lowered into the tank where you collected the “working off”.
Inside the car, on the transmission, set the selector to position P and start the engine. As a result of starting, the lubricant remaining in the torque converter will come out of the hose connected to the radiator. After draining approximately 1-1.5 liters of working fluid, the engine can be stopped.
Reconnect the pipe disconnected from the radiator unit and use a syringe with a tube to fill the unit with fresh oil. If you want to clean the gearbox, then repeat the procedure when starting the engine. When clean liquid comes out of the unit, the washing process can be considered complete. After filling the lubricant, check its level with a dipstick or by eye.
The last step will be to run the gear oil through the gearbox system. To do this, start the engine, press the brake pedal and hold it, while simultaneously turning on all operating modes on the gearbox. Turn off the power unit and wait about ten minutes until the lubricant passes through all channels of the system. This manipulation should be repeated several times, after which the lubricant level is diagnosed. If necessary, oil is added to the system.

1. Drain some of the liquid from under the pan

2. Disconnect the wires from the filter sensor, if equipped

3. Install a new gasket on the pallet and seal it with sealant

Change in manual transmission

Mechanical oil should be replaced and filled as follows:

Start the engine and warm it up, drive the car into a garage with a pit or onto an overpass, a lift will do.
Get under the bottom of the car. You will see a plastic transmission pan installed around the perimeter of the unit. Unscrew the bolts that secure it. Remove the pallet.
After removal, you will see two covers - these are the drain and filler plugs. Place a container under the drain cap in which the waste will be collected, unscrew it using a 19mm wrench. And unscrew the filler plug with a 8mm hexagon.
Wait about 10 minutes until all the used lubricant is released into the container. After this, replace the drain cap and tighten it. When doing this, be careful not to overtighten the plug, otherwise it may damage the gearbox.
Take a syringe and connect a pre-prepared hose to it. Using this device, pour approximately 1.5 liters of fluid into the gearbox. If the drained lubricant is too dirty and contains wear products, you can try to clean the unit. To do this, the fresh oil poured into the box must be drained from the system after about an hour, which will allow, albeit slightly, to wash the internal components of the unit.
As a result, new oil is poured into the box until it begins to come out of it. This indicates that the lubricant level is normal. Screw on the filler cap and perform a test drive. Then check the transmission for possible leaks. If they are missing, reinstall the transmission pan.

Draining lubricant from a manual transmission

In Ford Focus 2

The procedure for changing the fluid in pre-restyling Ford Focus 2 models with a manual transmission and engine capacity of 1.4 and 1.6 liters will be slightly different.

The lubrication changes like this:

First remove the plastic protective cover. It is attached to a latch and must be detached.
Then remove the bolts that hold the black casing on.
After this, the two drive shafts are dismantled. To remove the first shaft, press on the ring and disconnect it. To dismantle the second element, you need to pry it off with a screwdriver.
The gear lever is set to the neutral position.
The drain hole bolt is unscrewed. There is a magnet on the plug, to which wear products in the form of metal shavings stick; it needs to be cleaned. Wait until all the waste fluid has left the system.
Screw the drain bolt into place, open the filler plug and use a syringe to pump fresh lubricant into it. Oil is poured in until it starts to come out. You will need about two liters of liquid.

Selecting oil

In practice, changing the oil in a Ford Focus 2 manual transmission is carried out with the recommended types of oil:

Oil for manual transmission MTX-75 with WSS-M2C200-D2 approval.
Transmission oil Ford Focus 2 manual transmission IB5 viscosity 75W-90 with WSD-M2C200-C approval.
Oil for manual transmission M-66 with WSS-M2C200-C3 approval.

Among the analogues that replace the original oil for the Ford Focus 2 gearbox, experienced servicemen call such oils with a viscosity of 75W-90. Oils of this class are excellent for operation with ambient temperatures down to -30ºС:

Transmission oil Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90 GL-3GL-4

Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle;

VW Norm 501.50;
Motul Gear 300;
ARAL Getriebeoel EP Synth;
Mobil 1 SHC;
Shell GETRIBEOEL EP.

When operating a car only in the warm season, or taking into account a region with a temperate climate, Castrol or Mobil mechanical oil type API GL-4/ 5 SAE 80W-90 is actively used. The required volume of liquid to be filled is at least 2.5 liters, and in the case of preventive flushing - another 0.5 liter more.

Operating a car with a manual transmission will not require additional costs associated with replacing the filter. If you handle the gearbox gently, you can hardly expect significant impurities to appear in the oil.

Video “Step-by-step instructions for changing the oil”

How to change the oil in a pre-restyling Ford Focus 2 manual transmission, you will learn from the video filmed by the Works Garage channel.

Do you have any questions? Specialists and readers of the AUTODVIG website will help you ask a question

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Preparatory procedures

To change the oil in a manual transmission on a Ford Focus 3 successfully, you need to prepare tools and consumables:

a portion of working fluid (at least 4 liters);

polyhedra, keys;

container for draining used oil;

cotton napkins or rags;

refill syringe;

protective gloves.

When driving, lubricants heat up and become liquid, which makes them easier to drain. Therefore, it is advisable to change the oil when the engine is hot.

All modern machines require maintenance using expensive consumables and special equipment. Here the reason is more likely to be quality than marketing, since the life of the car directly depends on the correct choice of consumables.

In the case of a Ford Focus 2, you should take into account the manufacturer’s recommendations specified in the manual. Therefore, when servicing the machine yourself, each procedure is important. These recommendations also apply to the choice of transmission oil.

recommends using original FordService 75W-90 BO oil (labeling in the catalog -1790199). This oil is an excellent option for a Ford Focus 2 manual transmission.

Analogs

Ford Service 75W-90 BO is one of the highest quality and, accordingly, the most expensive oils. It is precisely this criterion such as price that forces drivers to look for cheaper analogues. They often have quite decent quality, and they should be selected according to the main indicator - SAE viscosity grade, although there are several other important criteria.

First of all, when choosing an analogue oil, you need to consider:

API viscosity parameter – GL5.
API viscosity parameter – GL5.
SAE viscosity parameter is 75W-90.
Resistance to freezing – up to – 54 °C.
Fire resistance – up to +186 °C.

The best gear oils for Focus 2

Castrol 75W-90 is a popular lubricant available on the domestic market. However, for use in our country, certain types of additives are added to it.
Shell Spirax 75W-90 is an affordable oil recommended for warm climates where minimal temperature changes prevail. Under such conditions, Shell Spirax will justify itself 100%.
Motul Gear 300 75W-90 is an analogue, almost identical in characteristics and having the same properties as the original from Ford. However, there are some differences - for example, the pour point. For Motul oil it is – 36°C. It is worth noting that such a low temperature is critical for some regions of Russia.
Liqui Moly Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil art. 75W-90 is a high-quality synthetic gear oil that is recommended for Ford Focus 2 owners even at the lowest temperatures. This lubricant is resistant to temperature changes and is very durable. Many car owners advise pouring this particular fluid into the Focus 2 manual transmission.
Mobil Mobilube SHC 75W-90 is not the best option for frosty climates. This composition is recommended for warm temperatures, so in the summer Mobil Mobilube will be 100% justified.
Enios Gear Oil 75W-90 is an inexpensive oil that is not intended for use in -40°C. Enios Gear Oil is recommended to be poured into the transmission in warmer regions than Russia, with a predominantly temperate climate.

When choosing a suitable lubricant, the manufacturer recommends giving preference to original Ford fluids. Of course, they are more expensive, but when using them there will be much fewer problems with the gearbox than when using an analogue with a dubious reputation. If you choose an analogue, then, first of all, you should pay attention to its parameters and only then to the brand you like or know.

What kind of oil is in the Ford Focus manual transmission?

Depending on the conditions of use of the car, the owner independently determines the type of substance for changing transmission oil on a manual Ford Focus 2. In turn, the manufacturer provides a list of recommended substances for carrying out such a procedure, which have been certified and tested on real units. In addition, there are 3 main types of product on the market. All of them are used depending on the mileage of the unit, climatic and other conditions:

Mineral substances are the least popular due to their archaic composition and characteristics. Such materials do not provide adequate protection of the system from wear, although some owners use it in the Far North at constant sub-zero temperatures. In addition, this composition is the cheapest among competitors and is least likely to be counterfeited by unscrupulous manufacturers.
Semi-synthetics are more popular due to the use of modern additives in the production, which provide decent washing and cooling characteristics. Due to their lower fluidity compared to modern synthetics, they are most often used when used in boxes with impressive mileage. Consequently, such materials are most suitable for changing oil in a Ford Focus 1 manual transmission with impressive mileage.
Synthetics are the most modern material among all due to their composition using a large number of additives. Due to this, this material is best suited for use when changing oil in Ford Focus gearboxes of 3rd or 2nd generation models. However, such material has the highest cost among all competitors, and is also most often subject to counterfeiting.

When to change the oil on a Ford Focus

The lubricant filled in by the manufacturer has excellent characteristics and is capable of fulfilling the stated operating period of the vehicle. But driving on poor-quality roads and difficult weather conditions adversely affect the systems, parts and components of the machine, and the transmission oil is deprived of its beneficial qualities. Accordingly, changing the oil in a manual transmission on a Ford Focus 3 should be done more often if the car is used constantly and mercilessly.

At 25-thousand mileage, it is worth checking the level regularly, simultaneously monitoring the consistency and appearance of the oil. After the next 100,000 km, the manual transmission needs a complete lubricant change.

Replacing power steering fluid

Replacing power steering fluid Ford Focus 2 (3) is not indicated in the technical documentation as a mandatory procedure. Service center specialists recommend performing this operation at least once every 2-3 years. An early reason for carrying it out is a change in the consistency and color of the lubricant, as well as the appearance of a burning smell. The original mixture only comes in green or red. The process itself is carried out in several stages:

All liquid is pumped out of the expansion tank;
the incoming tube is disconnected to drain the remaining old material;
the end of the incoming tube is placed in a separate container, new liquid is poured into the tank;
cleaning the system, with the engine turned on, the steering wheel is alternately turned all the way in both directions;
when clean liquid begins to come out of the incoming tube (for the expansion tank), the process is complete;
assembly and final check of the system after replacing the power steering fluid for Ford Focus 2;

Each of the described tasks is accompanied by many nuances and requires knowledge of the car’s design and experience in performing such tasks. For those who value their time and nerves, it is better to entrust such events to specialists.

Autotech offers a full range of services for servicing American brands of cars. We use special equipment, thanks to which changing the oil in a Ford Focus box, as well as in the engine and power steering, takes a minimum amount of time. Contact our specialists to agree on the timing and cost of providing the necessary services

Consequences of untimely replacement

The most important consequence is faster wear of the gearbox. If the transmission uses fluid that has lost its performance properties, this will lead to insufficient lubrication of the rubbing components of the unit. As a result, the volume of wear products in the system will increase, which will clog its channels. This is also facilitated by the formation of deposits that appear as a result of the use of a substance that has spent its service life.

If the system channels become clogged, some elements will begin to run dry. As a result, the gearbox shift lever will be knocked out, gears will become difficult to engage, and extraneous noise and vibration will appear when the gearbox is operating. Automatic units will take longer to warm up, and the transmission torque converter may fail. Ultimately, the car owner will be faced with the need for expensive repairs, especially if the entire transmission breaks down, and not just one part of it.